Peters romped to an easy re-election victory in a three-way primary Tuesday, gathering 61 percent of the vote in the city’s 2nd Ward, which includes the historic district and some central-city neighborhoods. By gathering a majority vote, he avoided a runoff in the November general election.

“I think the residents of the 2nd Ward are pretty plugged in and attuned to what is happening in the community,” Peters said. “I can only conclude they’re supportive of my representation.”

Peters, who is completing his first four-year term on the council, had been targeted for defeat by the Campaign for Michigan Families, a conservative political action committee that opposes a campaign to expand Holland’s anti-discrimination laws on employment, housing and other issues based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Peters was one of four council members to vote in favor of expanding the measure, which went down to defeat, 5-4, in June.

In campaign literature sent out by the Campaign for Michigan Families, the group said it would support candidates who oppose including sexual orientation and gender identity in the Holland ordinance. The committee called the one-vote difference “too close for comfort.”

No one challenged two other council members – Mayor Pro Tem Bob Vande Vusse and Councilman David Hoekstra – who supported expanding the ordinance.

CMF endorsed Holland Planning Commission Chairman Gerardo “Jerry” Tonini, who received only 13 percent of the vote to finish third.

Former Councilman Victor Oroczo, who served for 14 years before leaving the council in 2007, finished second with 26 percent of the vote.

“We appreciate Jerry Tonini for taking a principled stand against homosexual activists' discriminatory gay rights ordinance that threatens religious freedom and the institution of marriage,” CMF Chairman Gary Glenn said in a prepared statement. “We will continue to oppose that agenda before the City Council and at the ballot box, should the issue ever be put before Holland voters to decide directly.”

Peters said with the election out of the way he will focus his attention on dealing with the city’s financial situation and finding a replacement for City Manager Soren Wolff, who will retire next month.

“We have a lot of challenges ahead of us. One of them is replacing a very effective city manager, and I’m glad to be part of the selection process,” Peters said.

In the other contested Holland primary Tuesday, retired educator Wayne Klomparens and former Holland school board President Scott Troeger advanced to the November general election after receiving the highest number of votes in a three-way race for an at-large council seat. Klomparens received 45 percent of the vote to 37 percent for Troeger and 18 percent for community activist Ron Chavez.

Only 8 percent of the city’s registered voters cast ballots in the election, while that percentage jumped up to 13 percent in the 2nd Ward, Deputy City Clerk Anna Perales said.